Warming Instant Pot Chao Ga (Vietnamese Chicken Congee)

This Instant Pot chao ga (Vietnamese chicken congee) is warm, hearty, and perfect for cold mornings! So whether you feel a bit under the weather or just want a bowl of hearty porridge, this chao ga is the ultimate comfort meal.

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Chao ga is a beloved porridge that usually takes hours to make. This tends to be a large deterrent for many home chefs, but my Instant Pot chao ga recipe makes this dish in under 30 minutes! 

My version of this recipe includes easy-to-find ingredients so that you can quickly and easily make this meal wherever you live.

What Is Chao Ga?

Chao ga is Vietnamese chicken congee. This hearty rice porridge is full of flavor and has pieces of shredded, tender chicken drumsticks. Chao ga is traditionally eaten for breakfast, and it is similar to the Chinese congee. However, congee tends to be thicker while chao ga closely resembles a chicken soup with rice. 

Most people who grew up eating chao ga will tell you that this is considered “sick food”. The reason being is that this was usually the go-to meal when you’re sick! Think of it as the equivalence of chicken noodle soup here in the United States when you’re feeling under the weather.

This dish is excellent for feeding a large group of people since there are few ingredients, and it is easy to make. The ingredients are also inexpensive, so it is a great everyday meal. 

Is Chao Ga Healthy? 

Yes! Chao ga is filled with many nutritious ingredients, including plenty of vegetables and chicken for protein! Also, since chao ga is a porridge, a small amount of rice expands to a large bowl of porridge. 

So even though you are eating a large bowl of chao ga, there are very few carbs and calories! The chicken is also very healthy since it is boiled in an Instant Pot. Boiled chicken is a healthy alternative to pan-fried or grilled chicken since it has no additional oils. With one delicious bowl of chao ga, you will quickly feel warm and satisfied. 

Ingredients for Instant Pot Chao Ga

Any good chao ga needs a few key ingredients, including jasmine rice, ginger, lemongrass, fish sauce, chicken drumsticks, green onions, white pepper, cilantro, and roasted peanuts.

I planned this recipe to make most of these ingredients relatively easy to find in most grocery stores. However, you will definitely need fish sauce and white pepper, which tend to be harder to find ingredients. 

You can easily find these in the international section of your local grocery store or at an Asian grocery store. If you don’t want to leave your house, you can even order these ingredients on Amazon!

Toppings for Instant Pot Chao Ga

Common toppings for chao ga include sliced green onions, lemon wedges, chopped cilantro, and roasted peanuts. These fresh aromatic ingredients provide the rice porridge with a refreshing taste. At the same time, the lemon brightens up the dish and adds acidity.

Roasted peanuts are also essential as they change up the texture of the porridge and add a nutty, roasted flavor. You can also add a soft-boiled egg and let the gooey yolk mix with the rice. 

Once you have finished adding toppings to your bowl of chao ga, you can season it with salt and white pepper to taste and drizzle on some sesame oil. 

Why Use an Instant Pot 

Chao ga tends to take many hours to cook since it is traditionally cooked on the stovetop. This is because you need to wait for all of the rice to fully emulsify and absorb the water. 

The chicken also takes a long time to become tender enough to shred. Stove-top cooking also makes the process more of a hands-on experience since you will need to constantly check on the ingredients and make sure the pot doesn’t boil over.

With an Instant Pot, you can cut the cooking time to less than 30 minutes. The ingredients will be pressure-cooked so that the chicken quickly becomes tender and juicy, and all of the flavors come together. You can also make chao ga in a rice cooker, but the chicken won’t cook as evenly or quickly. 

What Type of Rice Should I use?

The best rice for chao ga is jasmine rice, but you can essentially use any kind of white rice. Long-grain rice is better for porridge since it has less moisture and is not as sticky as short-grain rice. You can also Mix long-grain and short-grain rice to make the porridge more starchy.

Warming Instant Pot Chao Ga Recipe

Ingredients

Servings: 2

• 1/2 rice cup of jasmine rice (washed)
• 5 rice cups of water
• 1 knob of ginger (peeled and sliced)
• 1/2 of lemongrass (crushed with a meat tenderizer)
• 1/2 tbsp red boat fish sauce
• 4 chicken drumsticks
• 1/2 tsp salt
• garnish with green onions, white pepper, cilantro, roasted peanuts, and/or lime

Cookware and Tools

• Instant Pot
• Rice washing bowl
• Meat tenderizer
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Tongs

How to Make Instant Pot Chao Ga (Step-by-Step)

Step 1. Prepare the Toppings

Thinly slice the green onions, finely chop the cilantro, cut the lemon wedges, and set aside a small bowl of roasted peanuts for topping options.

Step 2. Wash the Rice

Wash and rinse the rice 3 to 4 times in a rice washing bowl until the water is clear.

Step 3. Prepare Instant Pot with Ingredients

Transfer the washed rice into the Instant Pot insert and pour 5 cups of water into the pot. I found this ratio to be the perfect rice porridge texture and consistency.

• For a chunkier consistency, use 3 1/2 cups of water (1:7 rice to water ratio)
• For a more watery consistency, use 5 cups of water. (1:10 rice to water ratio)

Add crushed lemongrass, sliced ginger, red boat fish sauce, and salt.

Finally, add the chicken drumsticks and ensure they are all submerged under the water. Close the lid and set it to Pressure Cook (or Manual) on High Normal for 20 minutes. Make sure the knob is turned to the seal position.

Once the Instant Pot beeps, allow 10 minutes for a natural pressure release before turning the seal to vent. As a caution, place a dish towel over the knob prior to releasing the pressure as liquid might spill over!

Step 4. Remove and Shred the Chicken

Carefully remove the chicken drumsticks (along with the lemongrass and ginger) and shred the chicken.

This is what your rice porridge should ideally look like after removing all of the chicken, lemongrass, and ginger. Perfect texture and consistency!

Step 5. Plate the Chao Ga (Vietnamese Chicken Congee)

Spoon the rice porridge into a small bowl and add your desired toppings. Serve and eat immediately.

How to Store Leftover Chao Ga

You can store leftover chao ga by allowing it to sit at room temperature until it is no longer hot. Then, pour the leftover chao ga into an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for 5 days.

Reheat the rice porridge on the stove until it is hot or in the microwave for about a minute. Make sure to stir the chao ga, so it doesn’t clump together. You can also add some water or chicken broth to keep the correct consistency. 

Can I Freeze Chao Ga? 

Yes, chao ga can be made in advance and frozen until you are ready to eat it! First, make the chao ga, and skip adding the toppings. Then allow it to reach room temperature and add it to a freezer-safe container.

Try to remove the air from the top of the container by filling it up with as much chao ga as possible. Chao ga can last for up to 3 months in the freezer. 

You can thaw the chao ga by letting it sit overnight in the refrigerator. To warm it up, add it to a pot and heat it on the stove or in the microwave for about a minute.

You will likely need to add more water or chicken broth to loosen up the rice porridge. Once the chao ga is reheated, you can add all the toppings you want!

More Healthy Asian Instant Pot Recipes:

• Instant Pot Chicken Teriyaki
• Easy Instant Pot Pho Ga (Chicken Pho)
• Easy Recipe for Hainanese Chicken Rice (in the Instant Pot!)
• How to Make Silky Chinese Steamed Eggs in the Instant Pot
• Instant Pot Filipino Chicken Adobo
• Easy Vietnamese Chicken Curry (Cà Ri Gà)

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment and star rating below! I’d love to hear from you.